County authorities led an air and land search on Tuesday for a Wimberley woman who has been missing for almost a week.

Margaret Wilson White, 58, was last seen by her family July 20, according to Sgt. Allen Bridges, spokesman for the Hays County Sheriff's Office.

Her gray Chrysler mini-van was found Monday night along Ranch Road 12 past the Freeman Ranch, but the woman wasn't in it.

Bridges said the minivan had possibly been parked at the spot about a quarter mile west of County Road 213 (Freeman Ranch Road) since July 21.

"We really started searching this morning, starting from where the vehicle was found," Bridges said, adding that searchers walked the roadway "for a mile in each direction," and that their efforts were in addition to those of the department's Mounted Patrol, search dogs and Texas Department of Public Safety helicopters.

"At this point we have searched the area trying to find any sign of her and have not been able to find her," Bridges said Tuesday afternoon. "Detectives are still talking with the family to gather any more information."

Bridges said White's family said they believed she had gone to Houston. They had not filed a missing person report; rather, the search resulted from several 911 calls about a man laying by a van on the side of the road.

The man was still in the area when authorities arrived but could provide no information. He has not been charged with any crime.

Bridges said two Wimberley homes belonging to White were also searched.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the HCSO at 393-7814 or 393-7896.

posted July 28, 2005 06:07 PM
I'm confused - I heard that her body was found off Green Acres Rd., but no details & it was not mentioned on Austin TV. Ordinarily, I feel very safe here, but would like to know if this is rumor or fact. It seems rather strange that her van was found on RR12 & her "reported" body here near the elementary school off Green Acres.

posted July 28, 2005 07:19 PM
There was nothing online in the San Marcos Daily Record today. I know the Sheriff's Department were searching off RR12 on Tuesday and I was them again yesterday afternoon west of the Freeman Ranch. I haven't heard any reports of her (or her body) being found.

Nothing has been reported on any Austin news stations nor has it been in the Austin or San Antonio newspapers.

'The body of Margaret Wilson White was spotted by a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department helicopter Friday at 10:20 a.m.

On Friday the Hays County Sheriff's Department decided to double check the area but with more man power.

"Multiply everything that we had out here on Tuesday by a factor of 10. We have a lot more horses. We have a lot more people that can walk around the ground. We have a lot more support,” Lewis Smith of the County Emergency Response Team said.

The Wimberley woman was found just 2 hours after Friday's search began.

The Hays County Sheriff's Department is waiting for an autopsy to discover White’s cause of death.

Though White's body has been found, the case is far from over.

If you have any information about White, call (512) 393-7896 or (512) 393-7814.'

County authorities led an air and land search on Tuesday for a Wimberley woman who has been missing for almost a week.

Margaret Wilson White, 58, was last seen by her family July 20, according to Sgt. Allen Bridges, spokesman for the Hays County Sheriff's Office.

Her gray Chrysler mini-van was found Monday night along Ranch Road 12 past the Freeman Ranch, but the woman wasn't in it.

Bridges said the minivan had possibly been parked at the spot about a quarter mile west of County Road 213 (Freeman Ranch Road) since July 21.

"We really started searching this morning, starting from where the vehicle was found," Bridges said, adding that searchers walked the roadway "for a mile in each direction," and that their efforts were in addition to those of the department's Mounted Patrol, search dogs and Texas Department of Public Safety helicopters.

"At this point we have searched the area trying to find any sign of her and have not been able to find her," Bridges said Tuesday afternoon. "Detectives are still talking with the family to gather any more information."

Bridges said White's family said they believed she had gone to Houston. They had not filed a missing person report; rather, the search resulted from several 911 calls about a man laying by a van on the side of the road.

The man was still in the area when authorities arrived but could provide no information. He has not been charged with any crime.

Bridges said two Wimberley homes belonging to White were also searched.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the HCSO at 393-7814 or 393-7896.

I'm new to this forum and hope that I am posting correctly...Has anyone found out what kind of snake it was that killed Ms. White?

posted August 10, 2005 04:39 PM
Well, I was really curious, as I have had several run-ins with rattlers in the past few years. One was quite large. Before that, the only rattlesnake I had seen around here was a dead one. I do a lot of walking around in the brush, looking at properties, and it's getting kind of scary.

quote:Originally posted by j2442:Both the San Marcos paper and San Antonio papers had notices of the poisonous snakes in this area, rattlesnake, copperhead, coral, and water moccasin. But no mention of which one bit her.

I live just 1/2 mile from the square, and my dogs have killed 3 coral snakes in my yard. So I know they are around.

I am curious as both papers mentioned that usually you have time to get help, why she did not go to her car is the problem I have.It could depend on where she was bitten, I guess.

posted August 19, 2005 07:23 AM
RR 12 is like most country roads in that most everything is fenced and gated, which always make me wonder where and how did she manage to work her way back 400 yards from the road ? Somebody said she was found on Ingram Ranch --- where is that located ? Any theories as to why she was there ?

posted August 19, 2005 07:15 PM
Although she was a wildflower enthusiast & environmentalist, it's hard to understand how she would park her car just off RR 12, not even in the entrance to the Ingram Ranch, leave her keys & purse in the car to pursue ????? Rumors are rampant & the latest I've heard is that there were current fuel receipts from Bastrop & Houston, and yet her family in Houston had not had contact with her.

And, it's puzzling to understand that after having been bitten by a snake that she would not return to her car or RR 12 for help, as I've been informed that if she was bitten on her lower leg, she certainly had time to go for assistance.

quote:Originally posted by cgm:Although she was a wildflower enthusiast & environmentalist, it's hard to understand how she would park her car just off RR 12, not even in the entrance to the Ingram Ranch, leave her keys & purse in the car to pursue ????? Rumors are rampant & the latest I've heard is that there were current fuel receipts from Bastrop & Houston, and yet her family in Houston had not had contact with her.

And, it's puzzling to understand that after having been bitten by a snake that she would not return to her car or RR 12 for help, as I've been informed that if she was bitten on her lower leg, she certainly had time to go for assistance.

But, what do I know ????

Just when are we going to hear the real report of the autopsy. Bridges had told someone they would release the info. about what kind of snake, and the time of death. Do they not want everyone to know if they missed finding her for several days? There are still too many unanswered questions about this case. Many people that knew her cannot believe she would have gotten out of her car and left her purse and keys. We need to know answers...

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